pfouts



Mar. 27, 1923.`

L. S. PFOUTS.

IYCE CREAM FREEZER. ORIGINALHLED AUG.26. 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY S. PFOUTS, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE I'I. H. MILLER INDUSTRIES COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ICE-CREAM FREEZER.

Application filed August 26, 1916, Serial No. 116,969. Renewed July 6, 1922.

T0 all itc/wm t may concer/1t.'

Be it known that I, LEROY S. ProUrs, a citizen of the United States, residinO` at Canton, in the county of Stark and btate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Ice- Cream Freezers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an ice cream freezer, more particularly to that type of ice cream freezer in which batches or charges of material to be frozen are successively delivered to and emptied from the freezer.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for delivering fruit or flavoring material to the freezing chamber independently of the supply thereto of the material to be frozen.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for supplying fruit or flavoring to the freezing chamber in a manner which insures thorough mixing thereof with the material being frozen.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a horizontal ice cream freezer one head of which is formed at one side of the aXis of the freezerwith a material inlet opening, which is so arranged relative to movement of the agitating and scraping mechanism that material, such as fruit, introduced into the freezer' will become readily mixed therein without being cut up o-r crushed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ice cream freezer head having three openings, one of which serves as a discharge opening, and another of which serves as an inlet. opening, which permits fruit or other material to be introduced directly to the freezing chamber. 4

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustration, l have, in the accompanying drawings shown and herein described one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a freezing apparatus embodying my invention, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is alfront elevation of the freezing Serial No. 573,191.

apparatus, the batch holding tank and supporting members for the` freezer being omitted. f

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a section on the line lr-4f of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 8.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the freezer front head.

.Fim 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. t.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspectivel view of the material agitating and ejecting members, removed from the freezing chamber.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates, as an entirety, a suitable support, including a bed or base 1a. The bed l may be provided with a pair of spaced standards 1b to which are preferably secured bracketsor arms 2 eX- tending from the opposite ends of a freezer, indicated as an entirety at 3. 3 indicates a batch holding tank, which may belocated on top of the freezer 8 indicates ra conduit Connected with the batch tank and freezer 3; the conduit 3a is adapted to convey the material from the batch .tank to the freezer. The conduit may be provided with a suitable valve 3b. The freezer 8 comprises a cylinder 4;, a rear head 4c and a front head 5, which fonm thel freezing space or chamber. The front and rear heads are provided with bearings in which the shaft or shafts of material agitating and scraping members or elements 6 rotate. The bearing carried by the front head indica-ted at 5. Its outer wallv is provided with screw threads to fit a threaded opening formed in the head, as shown in F ig. 8. of any desired construction, but preferably include one or more devices awhich are arranged to propel the material toward the discharge end of the freezer in order to force the material therefrom when the discharge valve 5a is opened. The material agitating and scraping members,l are operated in any well-known manner by suitable mechanism 7 5 by preference the -scraping members are The agitating members 6 may be rotated in clock-wise direction when facing the front head of the freezer, for a purpose to be later described.

The freezer cylinder 4 may be surrounded' by a jacket which preferably includes a cylinder 4a; between the cylinders 4 and 4a may be 'provided a corrugated sheet 4f" to form a circiiitous conduit for the refrigerant; while the space between the cylinders 4 and 4, and surrounding the corrugated sheet 4f" may be filled with some non-conductor of heat, such as ground cork, asl shown at 4b. At its front end, the freezer' 3 is provided with an annulus 4c to which the outer or front ends of the cylinders 4 and .4fL are secured. The refrigerant used is preferably brine, it being supplied to the conduit by a pipe 4d, which is connected thereto at one side of the freezer 3.

4 indicates a bearing ring, preferably formed integral with the annulus 4 and adapted to be engagedby a flange 5b carried by the front head 5. rlhe flange 5b is preferably grooved to receive the ring 4C', these parts being accurately ground to form a liquid tight joint between the freezer cylinder 4 or the annulus therefor, and the head 5.

8 indicates devices for removably securing the head 5 to the annulus 4C. These devices preferably comprise a plurality of arms 8, having inturned ends 8b, secured to the annulus 4, and rotatable cams 8 carried by the head 5. The cams 8 are arranged to engage the under surfaces of the int-urned ends 8h, which coact to press the head flange 5b yagainst the ring 4C. Each cam 8c has a handle 8d by which it may be operated.

5c indicates a. discharge opening formed in the lower portion of the head 5. rlhis opening is preferably surrounded by a wall 5d, which' may serve as a short nozzle to direct the frozen material downwardly. The wall 5d is preferably formed integral with the head 5 and its outer end edge serves as a seat for t-he valve 5a. The valve 5n is preferably pivoted on a shaft 5e. 5f indicates a stop which limits the movement of the valve when it is opened.

9 indicates a duct leading to an opening 9 formed in the upper portion of the freezer front head 5, the walls ofthe duct and head being preferably formed integral. The center of the opening 9 is preferably disposed in a vert-ical plane which cuts the axis of the freezer'. The duct 9 extends rvertically upwardly from the opening 9. rllhe opening 9 is preferably elongated in a vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 7. In the present disclosure of an ice cream freezing apparatus, the opening 9 is shown as an inspection opening; and when so used I may provide the lupper Aend of the duct with a closing cap 9a. The cap maybe Apivota'lly connected to the wall of the duct, as shown in Fig. 3. The cap 9t is heldv to `its seat, when opening l2 formed in the front freezer' head 5, the walls of the duct 12 and head 5 being preferably formed integral. The opening 12 in the head 5 is preferably arranged at that side of the axis of the freezer, relative to which the arms 6b of the scraping members 6, when rotating, move downwardly. As already described herein, the scraping. members 6 move in a clockwise direction when looking at the freezer front head; accordingly, the opening 12 is arranged at the right of the axis of the agitating members 6 and the duct 9, as viewed in Fig. 2. The inlet opening 12 preferably extends vertically from a point below a horizontal line cutting the axis of the freezer to a point near the perimeter of the head 5, so that the fruit will engage with the scrapers and scraper arms as soon as the latter comvmence to move downwardly in rotating about their axes. The duct 12 preferably extends upwardly to a point above the duct 9 and above the upper edge of the freezer' 3. The duct 12 preferably extends upwardly parallel to the duct 9. The inner wall of the duct 12 is preferably ground to form a seat for the lower end of an inlet and funnel member 13. The inlet and funnel member 13 preferably extend upwardly to a point in the plane of the upper edge of the batch tank 3.

The duct 12, opening 12 and inlet niember 13 provide means for introducing fruitor flavoring inaterial, either or both, directly into the freezing chamber. @wing to the disposition of the opening 12 relative to the axis of the agitating and scraping members, ras'above described, l am enabled to discharge the fruit or flavoring material into the freezing chamber at a point lrelative to which the Scrapers and the arms thereof arc moving downwardly. so that the fruit or tlavoring material will be drawn downwardly and inwardly into the freezing chamber where it is caught by the agita'ting members rotating in a direction opposite to the scraping members and at once thoroughly mixed with the material being frozen. This construction of freezer front head is advan tageous in that it provides for the introduction independently of the material delivered from the batch vtank 3', of the fruit or other flavoring material to the freezing chamber; this form of construction also permits the fruit to be discharged into the lill) f Cilll freezer at any time while the freezing operation is going on, so that a thorough and uniform mixing of the fruit with the material within the freezer is quickly effected. While the inlet opening 12 could be arranged at some other point about the axis of the freezer, I prefer to arrange it as disclosed in the drawings, as the gravitation 'of the fruit as well as the direction of movement of the arms will quickly Aeffect delivery of the fruit through the opening 12 into the freezing chamber.

.In operating' the freezer, the required amount of material is discharged from the y batch tank 3, through the couduit 3a into' the cylinder 1, and the agitating and scraping members 6 are then rotatedv in the usual manner to freeze the material. Due to the operation of the material agitating and scraping members and their co-'operation with the Walls of the opening 9 and duct 9, different portions of the material in the freezer are continually forced into and out of the opening and duct or past the` point of vision directly below the opening into the duct 9, whereby the material can be conveniently inspected. As a result of this operation the operative is enabled to view different portions of the material and to thereby intelligently determine when to discharge the batch.

When it is desired to introduce lfruit or other flavoring material into the freezer, the top 13a which is preferably provided for the funnel 18 is removed and such material is poured into the funnel 13, through which and the duct 12 and opening 12 it flows to the freezer.

It is well known that in making ice cream it is desirable to prevent breaking, cutting up or mutilating of the fruit, so that when the cream is served the fruit therein will be in its natural condition and form. In my inventi'on I am enabled to introduce the fruit into the freezer just prior to the time the batch is discharged therefrom, so that it will not be cut up or crushed by the operation of the agitating, stirring and scraping members; at the same time, by disposing the opening 12 at one side of the axis of the freezer, as above described, I am enabled to readily introduce the fruit into the freezer and quickly and uniformly mix it with the frozen material therein, so that the batch be quickly discharged thereafter. Again, by providing means for the separate introduction of the fruit, I am enabled to more readily and effectively whip up and freeze the material to be frozen.

F rom the foregoing description, it will be seen that lthe freezing apparatus may be lled with fruit or other iiavoring material and discharged through .the same-the front-head and that I have provided in said head a duct 9 through which the material may be observed; in other words,thatIhave tion, and an inlet opening at one side of a vertical line cutting the axis of 'the freezer.

I prefer to arrange the duct 9 so that its major axis is disposed in a vertical plane cutting the longitudinal axis of the free-zer; and also to arrange the duct 12 parallel to the duct 9 and at that side thereof relative to which the scrapers move downwardly. I have found by this arrangement that the agitating members 6 in co-operation with the walls of the opening 12 will most effectively cause the material introduced through the duct 12 to flow into the freezing chamber and readily and quickly become properly mixed therein.

To those skilled in the art of making mechanism of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My descriptions and ydisclosures herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a horizontal freezing cylinder, agitating members rotatably mounted in said cylinder, and means for introducing materials into said cylinder at that side of its axis relative to which said agitating members move downwardly and at a point which is approximately in a horizontal plane cutting that axis.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a freezing cylinder having a head, agitating members rotatably mounted in said cylinder, and means for introducing materials through said head into said cylinder at 'that side of its axis relative to which said agitating members move downwardly as they rotate and substantially at a point which is in a horizontal plane cutting the said axis.

. 3. In apparatus of the class described, 'the combination of a freezing cylinder having a head, and agitating members rotatably mounted therein, said head being formed at that side of the axis relative to which said agitating members move downwardly with an opening extending from a point above that axis to a point therebelow.v

4. In an ice cream freezing apparatus, the combination of a freezing cylinder having a head at one end, mechanism movably mounted in said cylinder and operating to agitate the material therein, said head being formed with two openings one of which is disposed at one side of the vertical plane cutting the axis of said cylinder and arranged below the other opening and also llO ing to a point above the duct for the other.

opening.

6. ln apparatus of the class described, the combination of a freezing cylinder having at one end a head formed with two openings, agitating mechanism rotatably mounted in said cylinder, means `for closing Aone of said openings, the other opening being disposed at that side of the vertical plane cutting the axis of said cylinder relative to which said ag'itating mechanism moves as itrotates, and a duct lead-ing yupwardly from said last-mentioned opening.

7. A head for a freezing cylinder having an inlet opening disposed at one side of the vertical plane cutting the axis of the head 4and 'extending from a point above that axis to a point therebelow.

8. ln an ice cream freezing apparatus, the combination of a freezing cylinder having a head at one end thereof, members rotatably mounted in said cylinder for agitating the material therein, Vsaid head being formed, on that side thereof relative to which the adjacent supporting arms of the `material agitating members move down- -'a=iclly when rotating, with a material inlet opening` whereby materials introduced into said cylinder will be engaged by said members. Icarried into the cylinder and mixed `with the cream being frozen therein, a duct leading to said opening, and means for rotating said agitating members.

9. ln an icc cream freezing apparatus, the combination of a freezino' cylinder having a head at one end thereof, members rotatably mounted in said cylinder for agitating the material therein, said head being formed, on that side thereof relative to which the supporting arms of the material agitating members adjacent thereto move downwardly when rotating, with an elongated material inlet opening, a duct leading vto said opening, and Vmeans for rotating said agitating members.

10. ln an ice cream freezing apparatus, the combination of a freezing cylinder having ahead at one end thereof, members rotatably mounted `in said cylinder for-agitatingk the .material therein, said head 'being formed, on that side -thereof relative to which the supporting arms of the material agitating members adjacent thereto-move downwardly when rotating, with a material inlet opening, elongated in a vertical direction, a duct leading to said opening, and means for rotating said agitating members.

11. ln an ice cream freezing apparatus, the combination of a freezing cylinder having a head at one end thereof, members rotatably mounted in said cylinder for agitating the material therein, said head being formed with two openings, one above and in the vertical plane cutting the axis of said cylinder and the other on that side of the axis of the cylinder relative to which the supporting arms of the material agitating members adjacent thereto move downwardly when rotating, a duct leading to each of said openings, and means for rotating said agitating members.

12. In .an ice cream freezer, the combination of a horizontal freezing cylinder having a head at one end thereof, material agitating members rotatably mounted in said cylinder, said head being formed with an opening above its axis and a material discharge opening below its axis, and means for introducing material into said cylinder at a `point between said openings and on that side of the axis of said cylinder relative to which said vagitating members move downwardly.

13. In an ice cream freezer, the combination of a horizontal freezing cylinder having at one end thereof a head formed with a material discharge opening, and agitating members rotatably mounted in said cylinder, said head being formed with a material inlet opening on that side of the axis of said cylinder relative to which said agitating members move downwardly and extending from a point adjacent the periphery of said head downwardly to a point approximately in a horizontal plane cutting that axis.

14. In an ice cream freezing apparatus, the combination of a freezing cylinder having a head at one end thereof, members rotatably mounted in said cylinder for agitating the material therein, said head being formed with an inspection opening and a material inlet opening, the inspection opening being arranged above and in the vertical plane cutting the axis of said cylinder and the inlet opening being arranged at one side of said inspection opening, a duct leading to .each of said openings, and means for rotating said agitating members.

15. In an ice cream freezing apparatus, the combination of a freezing cylinder having a head at one end thereof, members rotatably mounted in said cylinder for agitating the `material therein, said head being formed 'with an inspection openingA and a material inlet opening, the` inspectionopening being arranged above and in the vertical plane cutting the axis of said cylinder and the inlet opening being arranged at one side of said inspection opening, a duct leading to each of said openings, said head also being formed with a discharge opening in its lower portion, and means for rotating said agitating members.

16. A head for a 4freezing cylinder formed with three openings, one of said openings serving as an inspection opening and arranged in the upper portion of the head, another of said openings serving as a discharge opening and arranged in the lower portion of said head and the other of said openings serving as a material inlet opening and arranged at one side of a vertical plane cutting the axis of said head, and a duet connected to said inlet opening.

17. The combination of a horizontal cylinder provided with a head at one end having a discharge opening in its lower portion, said head being formed with a material inlet opening at one side of a vertical plane cuttingthe axis of said cylinder, and material agitating and scraping members rotatably mounted within said cylinder.

18. In an ice cream freezer, the combination of a cylinder having heads at opposite ends, and agitating means within said cylinder, one of said heads having a material inlet opening and the other of said heads having a discharge opening in its lower portion, an inspection opening and a material inlet opening, disposed at one side of the axis of said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature` LEROY S. PFOUTS.

Witness: I

GEO. B. Prrfrs. 

